Minister McGuinty concludes productive first visit to Europe for Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting and NATO Defence Ministers’ Meeting

From: National Defence

News release

June 6, 2025 – Brussels, Belgium – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, concluded a productive visit to Brussels, Belgium, where he participated in the 28th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting and a meeting of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defence Ministers. This visit marks Minister McGuinty’s first trip to Europe since he was appointed Minister of National Defence.

During the UDCG meeting, the Minister announced that Canada is providing over $35 million in military assistance to Ukraine, including:

  • $30 million for Coyote and Bison armoured vehicles, accompanied by new equipment and ammunition supplied by Canadian companies.  This donation complements Canada’s previous donation of 64 Coyote armoured vehicles that arrived in Ukraine in December 2024.
  • $5 million for electronic warfare anti-jammer kits from Canada’s defence industry.

This military assistance is from existing funds identified in Budget 2024 funding in support of the Canada-Ukraine Strategic Security Partnership

Minister McGuinty also shared with partners updates on advanced pilot training for Ukrainian pilots underway in Canada. Canada has taken over leadership of the fighter-lead-in-training (FLIT) element of the UDCG Air Force Capability Coalition (AFCC). This $389 million investment over five years includes F-16 pilot training for Ukrainian personnel, critical airfield equipment, and other support to Ukrainian air bases and fleets—all provided by Canadian industry.

On June 5, Minister McGuinty participated in a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers ahead of the NATO Leaders’ Summit in the Netherlands. This meeting reaffirmed Allies’ commitment to NATO and discussed common defence priorities, including strengthening the Alliance’s deterrence and defence efforts and supporting Ukraine. During the meeting, the Minister reinforced Canada’s commitment to accelerating defence spending and working with NATO Allies and international partners to meet shared security commitments.

While in Brussels, Minister McGuinty met with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte. He also held a number of productive bilateral engagements with Ministers from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Latvia, and Ukraine, as well as representatives from the European Union. Minister McGuinty participated in a 3+3 dialogue with Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, and Finland. The Minister discussed with his counterparts how Canada can deepen its defence relations and work more closely on the Alliance’s deterrence and defence posture, and support Ukraine.

During the NATO meeting, Canada signed an agreement to join the NATO Flight Training Europe initiative (NFTE) which is a network of campuses that offer pilot and aircrew training. Participation will allow the RCAF to leverage allied training capacity, providing opportunity to augment RCAF aircrew training when needed. Participation will also offer the opportunity for the RCAF to provide any excess training to allies. Canada’s participation will enhance allied training efforts increasing NATO’s deterrence.

During this important moment for Euro-Atlantic security, Canada continues to work closely with NATO Allies and international partners. The coordination between Allies ensures the Alliance remains innovative, flexible, and adaptable in the face of current and future security threats.

Quotes

“As a founding member of NATO, Canada believes that the Alliance is the cornerstone of transatlantic security and we are moving quickly to accelerate our defence spending and increase our contributions to NATO. During the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers, Canada reaffirmed unwavering support to Ukraine as its citizens fight for their freedom, and we look forward to working closely with Allies to strengthen our collective security.”

The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

Quick facts

  • NATO is a cornerstone of Canada’s international security policy. Canada steadfastly supports NATO’s principle of collective defence and is providing direct support to NATO missions and operations to this end.

  • Current Canadian contributions to NATO include:

    • leading the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia;
    • deploying ships on a persistent, rotational basis to the NATO’s Standing Naval Forces; and
    • contributing personnel, including to key leadership positions, to NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), the NATO command that coordinates the provision of military equipment and training to Ukraine.

  • Canada also contributes to four Capability Coalitions under the UDCG, including the Armour Capability Coalition, the Drone Capability Coalition and the IT Capability Coalition.

  • Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $19.5 billion in total assistance to Ukraine, including $4.5 billion in military assistance. This includes multi-mission drones, armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms, M777 howitzers and associated ammunition. Canada is also contributing to multinational efforts to train pilots and maintain and support Ukraine’s F-16s.

  • Canada further contributes to Euro-Atlantic security through our support to Ukraine. Operation (Op) UNIFIER is the CAF’s military training and capacity building mission in support of the AFU. Since 2015, the CAF has trained over 44,500 members of the AFU under Op UNIFIER. Over 350 CAF members are deployed under Op UNIFIER in various roles, including to provide and coordinate training, and the facilitation and deliver military donations to Ukraine in coordination with Allies and Partners. 

  • Through Canada’s defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free, Canada will spend an additional $8.1 billion over the next five years, and $73 billion over the next 20 years. With the investments in the policy and previously announced investments, Canada will have almost tripled its defence spending between 2014-15 and 2029-30.

Associated links

Contacts

Laurent de Casanove
Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Email: laurent.decasanove@forces.gc.ca  

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

Page details

Date modified: